Contact with people suffering from lice

[RiverSky]

Oh my...we inadvertently spent the day with people who have been suffering from lice. It was my children and I (and I am 21 weeks pregnant) and we spent the day with them (relatives) at an outdoor festival plus we spent time in their home. I am terrified and mortified that we might have picked some critters up and that it will be a hellishly horrendous job to get rid of them, or to wait for them to show up, and I am scared as can be that we might pass them on to our friends. I'm a bit livid, too, because we never would have gone if we had known.

I've been looking up what to do if you have lice when you are pregnant or have contact with people with lice, and figure the "olive oil" cure seems the best way to go, but can't believe that we are going to have to spend hours and hours, daily, with my husband (who did not come with us) nit picking, combing our hair, slathering our heads with olive oil, etc., for weeks to make sure.

I keep thinking I don't want to wait until there are signs of lice, but don't want to do all of this in vain, either.

Can you give me some advice?

Thanks in advance...

Also, should we quarantine ourselves for a few weeks (very hard to do, we're very social and involved in many things, like clubs, music lessons, etc.) in order to avoid passing them on? (assuming we have some?)

[pianojazzgirl]

No, you don't need to quarantine yourself. But you do need to closely examine everyone's head every day for a week or so. I would also probably keep all long hair in braids if possible, and make sure no one shares brushes, hats etc.

If you do end up with lice I REALLY REALLY REALLY suggest the Cetaphil or "Nuvo" method (google it). It is a "smothering" method that is more effective than olive oil, mayonnaise etc. The jist is that you use Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser (safe during pg and for kids) all over your scalp and hair, comb it out as much as possible and then blow dry it till it's bone dry. Do this every week for three weeks (this has to do with the lice life cycle - google it to read more).